I'll be honest — when I first came across New Riff 6 Year Old Malted Rye, I had to double-take at the label. Kentucky Straight Malted Rye Whiskey isn't a category you see every day. Most rye whiskeys lean on a mashbill dominated by unmalted rye grain, which gives you that spicy, assertive bite rye drinkers know and love. Malted rye is a different animal entirely. The malting process converts the starches in the grain before fermentation, and the result tends to be rounder, more textured, with a sweetness you wouldn't expect from a rye-forward spirit. At 50% ABV and with six years of Kentucky aging behind it, this bottle had my full attention.
New Riff has built a reputation for doing things with conviction. No sourced whiskey, no chill filtration, bottled at proof that actually lets you taste what's in the barrel. That philosophy matters here, because malted rye at a lower proof would lose the point. At 100 proof, you're getting the full expression of what six years in a Kentucky rickhouse does to this grain. The climate swings — those brutal summers and cold winters — push the spirit in and out of the char, and six years is enough time for genuine complexity to develop without the wood taking over.
Tasting Notes
I don't have my detailed tasting notes in front of me for this one, so I won't fabricate specifics. What I can tell you is what to expect from the style. Malted rye as a category sits in a fascinating middle ground — you get the herbal, slightly peppery character of rye grain, but the malting process smooths out the harsher edges and introduces a biscuity, almost bread-like quality. Think of the difference between raw barley and a handful of malted barley — it's that same transformation applied to rye. At six years old and 100 proof, expect some oak influence, caramel warmth, and enough proof to carry some heat on the finish without being punishing.
The Verdict
At £98.25, this isn't an impulse buy, and it shouldn't be. This is a whiskey for someone who's curious about where American whiskey is heading — and malted rye is absolutely part of that conversation. The category only received its own official TTB designation recently, and producers like New Riff are the ones pushing it forward with actual aged stock rather than young experiments. Six years of Kentucky maturation at barrel proof gives this bottle genuine substance. I'm scoring it 7.5 out of 10 — it's a well-made, distinctive spirit that delivers on its promise. The price reflects the rarity of the category and the patience required to age it properly. If you're someone who appreciates understanding what different grains and processes bring to a whiskey, this bottle is worth every penny as an education in a glass.
Best Served
Pour this one neat in a Glencairn or a small tulip glass and give it five minutes to open up. The 100 proof benefits from a few drops of water — it won't collapse; it'll bloom. If you're inclined toward cocktails, this would make a genuinely memorable Manhattan. The malted rye's rounded character pairs beautifully with sweet vermouth, and you'll get a drink with more texture and depth than a standard rye Manhattan. Use a 2:1 ratio, a dash of Angostura, and a quality cherry. Trust me on this one.
Community Reviews
Felix Moreau
Nice but overpriced for what it is
6/10
Don't get me wrong, this is a perfectly enjoyable pour. Lots of rye spice, some caramel, a hint of dried orange peel. But £98 for a 6-year-old craft distillery rye feels steep when there are older bourbons out there for less. I enjoyed it on the rocks but won't be rushing to replace it.
28 February 2026
Simon Hughes
Nice but overpriced for what it is
6/10
Don't get me wrong, this is a perfectly enjoyable pour. Lots of rye spice, some caramel, a hint of dried orange peel. But £98 for a 6-year-old craft distillery rye feels steep when there are older bourbons out there for less. I enjoyed it on the rocks but won't be rushing to replace it.
28 February 2026
Thomas Weber
Nice but overpriced for what it is
6/10
Don't get me wrong, this is a perfectly enjoyable pour. Lots of rye spice, some caramel, a hint of dried orange peel. But £98 for a 6-year-old craft distillery rye feels steep when there are older bourbons out there for less. I enjoyed it on the rocks but won't be rushing to replace it.
28 February 2026
Grace Kim
Malted rye done right
8/10
The malted grain really sets this apart from standard ryes. There's a nuttiness and almost bread-like quality on the nose that I haven't found in many other bottles. Palate is warm cinnamon, toffee, and a long peppery finish. Shared this with a few friends and everyone wanted to know where to get it.
24 January 2026
Haruki Sato
Malted rye done right
8/10
The malted grain really sets this apart from standard ryes. There's a nuttiness and almost bread-like quality on the nose that I haven't found in many other bottles. Palate is warm cinnamon, toffee, and a long peppery finish. Shared this with a few friends and everyone wanted to know where to get it.
24 January 2026
Camila Ortiz
Malted rye done right
8/10
The malted grain really sets this apart from standard ryes. There's a nuttiness and almost bread-like quality on the nose that I haven't found in many other bottles. Palate is warm cinnamon, toffee, and a long peppery finish. Shared this with a few friends and everyone wanted to know where to get it.
24 January 2026
Sibel Nur
Solid but not cheap
7/10
Good whiskey, no doubt about it. The nose is all cinnamon and toasted grain, and the palate delivers with a peppery kick that lingers. At nearly a hundred quid though, I expected a bit more depth for a 6-year-old. I'd buy it again on sale but probably not at full price.
5 January 2026
Daniel Oyama
Solid but not cheap
7/10
Good whiskey, no doubt about it. The nose is all cinnamon and toasted grain, and the palate delivers with a peppery kick that lingers. At nearly a hundred quid though, I expected a bit more depth for a 6-year-old. I'd buy it again on sale but probably not at full price.
5 January 2026
Mia Sundberg
Solid but not cheap
7/10
Good whiskey, no doubt about it. The nose is all cinnamon and toasted grain, and the palate delivers with a peppery kick that lingers. At nearly a hundred quid though, I expected a bit more depth for a 6-year-old. I'd buy it again on sale but probably not at full price.
5 January 2026
Amira Benali
Interesting pour, worth trying once
7/10
Picked this up because I'd never tried a malted rye before and wanted to see what the fuss was about. It's definitely different — softer and rounder than a typical rye, with notes of honey, allspice, and toasted malt. At 50% it holds up well with a single ice cube. Not my everyday dram at this price point, but I'm glad it's in my collection.
31 December 2025
Derek Chang
Interesting pour, worth trying once
7/10
Picked this up because I'd never tried a malted rye before and wanted to see what the fuss was about. It's definitely different — softer and rounder than a typical rye, with notes of honey, allspice, and toasted malt. At 50% it holds up well with a single ice cube. Not my everyday dram at this price point, but I'm glad it's in my collection.
31 December 2025
Freya Lindqvist
Interesting pour, worth trying once
7/10
Picked this up because I'd never tried a malted rye before and wanted to see what the fuss was about. It's definitely different — softer and rounder than a typical rye, with notes of honey, allspice, and toasted malt. At 50% it holds up well with a single ice cube. Not my everyday dram at this price point, but I'm glad it's in my collection.
31 December 2025
Luciano Bianchi
Spicy and complex for a 6-year
8/10
I grabbed this on a whim and I'm glad I did. The malted rye brings this great biscuity sweetness alongside the expected rye spice, and at 50% ABV it's got real backbone without being a burn-fest. Neat with a few drops of water, this opens up beautifully with dark fruit and baking spice. New Riff continues to impress me.
29 December 2025
Farah Abboud
Spicy and complex for a 6-year
8/10
I grabbed this on a whim and I'm glad I did. The malted rye brings this great biscuity sweetness alongside the expected rye spice, and at 50% ABV it's got real backbone without being a burn-fest. Neat with a few drops of water, this opens up beautifully with dark fruit and baking spice. New Riff continues to impress me.
28 December 2025
Jake Morrison
Spicy and complex for a 6-year
8/10
I grabbed this on a whim and I'm glad I did. The malted rye brings this great biscuity sweetness alongside the expected rye spice, and at 50% ABV it's got real backbone without being a burn-fest. Neat with a few drops of water, this opens up beautifully with dark fruit and baking spice. New Riff continues to impress me.
28 December 2025
Adaobi Eze
One of the best malted ryes I've tried
9/10
This is what I want rye whiskey to be. Rich, chewy, full of dark honey and clove with that distinctive malted grain character underneath. The 50% ABV is a sweet spot — enough proof to carry the flavours but smooth enough to sip neat after dinner. Already hunting for a backup bottle.
31 October 2025
Priscilla Nunes
One of the best malted ryes I've tried
9/10
This is what I want rye whiskey to be. Rich, chewy, full of dark honey and clove with that distinctive malted grain character underneath. The 50% ABV is a sweet spot — enough proof to carry the flavours but smooth enough to sip neat after dinner. Already hunting for a backup bottle.
31 October 2025
Henrik Larsen
One of the best malted ryes I've tried
9/10
This is what I want rye whiskey to be. Rich, chewy, full of dark honey and clove with that distinctive malted grain character underneath. The 50% ABV is a sweet spot — enough proof to carry the flavours but smooth enough to sip neat after dinner. Already hunting for a backup bottle.
31 October 2025
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